Two basic components of life are air and food.
It is not only human beings but also plants that cannot survive
without air and food. Here we will talk about the latter. Much
discussion has taken place on the subject from the points of view
of health and various periods of the year, especially the
seasons. Some people have gone further and discussed the kinds of
food suitable at different times of the day--morning, mid day and
evening. Then there has been an attempt to specify foods
conducive to a state of austerity and celibacy. Many dos and
don'ts have been prescribed. Here, however, we are considering
food in the context of non-violence. Is there any relation
between food and violence and between food and non-violence ? The
question is very important and an intensive Investigation is
necessary to find an answer.

The food that man eats produces innumerable
chemicals in his body. It helps form a number of
neuro-transmitters in the brain which act as communicators.
Through them the brain runs the body. Scientists have so far
succeeded in identifying nearly forty types of
neuro-transmitters. All of them are formed by the food one eats.
Besides, food is also responsible for the manufacture of many
amino acids in the body. Even uric acid, a poison, is produced by
food. The same is true of many other toxic elements. Therefore it
is necessary to know which type of food produces what. The type
that produces poison is also the one that creates mental and
emotional problems and that encourages violent tendencies. In
ancient times a lot of attention was paid to the effects of
various types of foods. Modern dieticians, besides doing the same
also study the effects of not eating different kinds of foods.
These are two aspects of the same problem.

Here is a simple case. We come across a highly
irritable man and want to find out why he is so. Investigations
reveal vitamin A deficiency. Again, there has to be 90 to 110 mg
of sugar for every 100 cubic centimeters of body volume. Slight
deficiency causes emotional disorders. The man becomes
ill-tempered and in extreme cases can even become a murderer.
Modem science has proved that ill-temper and the murderous
tendency are caused by a deficiency of sugar, niacin and certain
vitamins. Chemical deficiency can cause depression. Similarly,
one of the causes of fear is vitamin B deficiency. A lot of
research is being carried on these days on the properties of a
chemical called tryptaphane which produces serotonin. It has been
found that an adequate quantity of serotonin in the blood
prevents moodiness and fear and increases tolerance to pain.

Advocates of non-vegetarianism often advance
richness in protein as the chief argument in favour of meat and
eggs. But now it is realized that excessive protein causes all
kinds of physical and mental disorders. The daily requirement of
protein for an average man is not more than 10 to 15 grams.

Non-vegetarians suffer from an excessive intake
of protein. Moreover, it too is an established fact that animal
protein is not as useful as vegetable protein. For example,
millet protein is good for health while meat protein causes
disease. Not only this, a non-vegetarian has to use alcohol
and/or excessive salt to digest meat, which cause diseases of the
kidneys, liver and heart. To quite some extent food is
responsible for some of the major killer diseases like
hypertension, cardiac troubles, ulcers, cancer and kidney
failure. What the body needs is a balanced diet in which not only
proteins but other elements like fats, carbohydrates etc. must
also be present. Today only one element protein- is being
overemphasized and the craze for protein-rich food has driven
people to non-vegetarianism, so much so that at an early stage
school children are asked to eat eggs since they are said to be a
good source of protein. But, as has been pointed out earlier, an
excessive intake of proteins, particularly animal proteins, is an
open invitation to illness. Most emotional disturbances in modern
society can be blamed on the use of intoxicants and
non-vegetarian food, and these disturbances can cause unsuspected
damage. For example, emotional imbalance and overwork are two
important causes of marrow degeneration. Lechery and excessive
anger also cause it. And it has already been noted that food is
one of the factors responsible for emotional imbalances.

Three types of food have been recognised: sattvik
(endowed with the quality of highest purity), rajasik
(endowed with the quality of passion) and tamasik (endowed
with the quality of darkness-the lowest kind.) That is why there
is a close relation between food and the mind. For the above
reason certain foods are prohibited, while others are
recommended. A scientific discussion on non-violence cannot
therefore ignore food. Proper food and non-violence both help
prevent the accumulation of poisons in the blood stream. Food
being a necessity of life cannot be given up, but those foods
that poison the body must be avoided. Here it is in order to
mention that both acidic and alkaline elements are present in
food. Modern food has more of the former than the latter and it
is the acidic elements which lead to greater accumulation of
poisons in the system. To curb violence it is essential to
prevent their accumulation.

Two things are required to be done - preventing
the formation of poisons and eliminating or expelling those
already formed. How to do it ? Here we must consider another
aspect of food, viz. not eating or fasting. Eating and not eating
are closely related as the best way of expelling poisons is
fasting. Its importance is as much therapeutic as religious;
particularly, it is crucial for emotional health. Lord Mahavir
asked people to take milk, yoghurt, butter, sugar etc. in
moderation since they act as stimulants and arouse passions. On
this basis eating meat is automatically ruled out. It should be
remembered that food should be taken for fostering physical,
mental and emotional health. If food is eaten merely for the sake
of physical health, things are bound to go wrong. Once we
consider the aspect of emotional health, we automatically ensure
non-violence. It is only emotionally healthy people who practise
non-violence. One who is emotionally diseased is bound to indulge
in crimes and violence. It is highly regrettable that modern man
thinks first of only physical health and then of mental health,
if at all. Emotional health is altogether ignored. We should
reverse the order and care first of all for emotional health,
then for mental health and lastly for physical health. This is
not unnatural, for it is emotions which influence life most. Like
emotions, like the mind and the body.

There are three words: adhi, vyadhi and
upadhi. The first is mental disease, the second is physical
disease and the third is emotional disease. Which should be
eliminated first ? Quite mistakenly we try to treat the physical
disease first. In reality we should begin with the emotional
ailment, which consists of lust, anger, egoism, jealousy,
delusion, greed and such other faults. Since emotions are vitally
linked with food, we must exercise utmost discrimination in
eating. The present criteria of food are satisfaction of the
palate and of the aesthetic sense. Nothing beyond this. But one
who practises meditation must give utmost attention to the
selection of proper food--sattvik food. For changing one's
life style one has to change the style of eating. The food eaten
should be such as will ensure emotional health because the latter
is a vital prerequisite of non-violence. It is necessary to study
the relation between food and violence and between food and
non-violence much more seriously.